Annual Law & Society symposium to address regional impact of climate change

The Charleston Law Review and Furman University’s Riley Institute present the 15th annual Law & Society symposium on Friday, February 24, at the Charleston Museum auditorium. The half-day event will focus on the threat that climate change poses to Charleston and coastal communities and the legal consequences that result.

The symposium, “Climate Change and the Law: Rising Tides Wash Up Legal Issues,” will feature legal, academic, and climate experts discussing legal and legislative trends emerging as a result of climate change.

Phyllis Cuttino, president and CEO at The Climate Reality Project, will be the keynote speaker for the symposium. Cuttino is an experienced leader of climate and clean energy advocacy. Previously, she served as the executive director of the Climate Action Campaign, a coalition of 14 of the country’s leading climate and health organizations representing more than 12 million Americans, which is dedicated to making progress on federal climate, clean air and clean energy policy.

“Last year’s unprecedented flooding and extreme weather events in the United States and abroad make this year’s topic as salient as ever, especially in Charleston,” said Dr. Don Gordon, executive director of the Riley Institute. “We believe the conversations at this year’s symposium will be of great value to legal professionals and community members alike.” 

The symposium will also spotlight the United States Army Corps of Engineers (“USACE”) “Charleston Peninsula Study” and Miami “Back Bay Study” and the many legal concerns these projects raise. 

“The Symposium presents a unique opportunity to hear from experts about a pressing series of legal issues,” said Larry Cunningham, Provost and Dean of Charleston School of Law. “Each year, I am grateful for our collaboration with the Riley Institute on this important event.” 

The Law & Society symposium is from 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. with scheduled breaks between panels. Admission is free.

About Charleston School of Law 

The Charleston School of Law is an ABA-accredited law school nationally recognized for its student-centric culture. Our faculty and staff are committed to preparing you for success both in the classroom and in the legal profession. Our curriculum is grounded in the fundamentals and the practical legal skills required to serve in the legal profession. 

About the Riley Institute at Furman University 

Furman University’s Richard W. Riley Institute advances social and economic progress in South Carolina and beyond by building leadership for a diverse society, hosting expert speakers to broaden perspectives on critical issues, supporting public education, and creating knowledge through community solutions-focused research. It is committed to nonpartisanship in all it does and to a rhetoric-free, facts-based approach to change. Learn more at furman.edu/riley. 

Directions to the Charleston Museum

CHARLESTON SCHOOL OF LAW QUICK FACTS

The Charleston School of Law is an ABA-accredited law school nationally recognized for its student-centric culture. Our faculty and staff are committed to preparing you for success both in the classroom and in the legal profession.

  • The Princeton Review ranks Charleston School of Law professors sixth in the country for faculty accessibility and No. 12 nationwide in quality of teaching (2022)
  • Charleston School of Law faculty ranked among the top of The Princeton Review’s list of Best Professors in the nation (2016-2018)
  • Experiential Learning: Charleston School of Law students have access to more than 150 externship sites, creating opportunities for experiential learning in the legal field.
  • Community Service: Charleston School of Law students have performed more than 241,000 community service hours (2004-current).
  • Students have won the National Tax Moot Court Championship for seven consecutive years (2012-2018)

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